Local ice cream shops and pools are gearing up for a busy weekend with scorching temperatures that are expected to hit Victoria this weekend.
Environment Canada is predicting potentially record-breaking temperatures in the high 20s and low 30s heading into the weekend and early next week.
“We're in for a little bit of a heat wave here, temperatures are going to peak on Sunday. The forecast high for Sunday is 30 degrees, considering the normal high at this time of year is 20,” said Matt MacDonald, a meteorologist with Environment Canada. “The record high is 30.5 degrees, so we're going to flirt with records on Sunday.”
Victoria also recorded the driest May on record last month with only two millimetres of precipitation, compared to the normal 38 mm, all thanks to “the blob.”
The blob is a huge mass of water sitting off the coast of Vancouver Island that is three to four degrees warmer than normal. Over the past two years, storm tracks have not been as strong, reducing the mixing of the ocean and allowing the water to heat up, resulting in a warmer than normal conditions.
And people will be looking for ways to cool down in the heat.
Jackson Avio, owner of Jackson's Ice Cream at Fisherman's Wharf, is expecting to serve a lot of cones and floats this weekend.
“I would imagine for my particular store, it will be the busiest weekend we've ever had,” said Avio, adding that on a regular weekend they see roughly 1,500 people.
“I've ordered a lot more ice cream and we just opened another event truck, so we're busy at the HarbourCats games and we've got extra staff on . . . Everyone wants to be on the harbour and everyone likes an ice cream cone when they're down here.”
Crystal Pool is also expecting a busy weekend.
“When it is super hot outside, people like to come to a slightly more controlled environment,” said Terri Askham, recreation manager.
One feature that she expects to get a lot of use in the hot weather is the sun patio that allows people to be outside in the sun, but also go back and use the indoor pool when they get too hot.
But don't expect any relief later on in the week.
“There's going to be a slight cooling trend come Monday, but we're still going to be at 27 or 28 degrees for another few days until at least mid-week,” said MacDonald.